Bari Stadium Guide: Stadio San Nicola

The Stadio San Nicola is one of Italy’s biggest, most ambitious and arguably most head-scratching arenas. Built for the 1990 World Cup, it was one of only two stadiums – along with the Stadio delle Alpi – that was created for the tournament.

Designed by the legendary architect Renzo Piano, the San Nicola was built to resemble a flower, with of 26 petals at the top.

It hosted five games during Italia 90, and the 1991 European Cup final – a drab affair settled when Red Star beat Marseille on penalties.

And while the Delle Alpi was demolished in 2009, the San Nicola is still just about standing, with its 58,270 seats. Built to size at the behest of then-FIGC president and Bari native Antonio Matarrese, it never sold out until 24 years after being put up.

With the Galletti bobbing along in the backwaters of Serie B and their average attendance a shade under 16,000, it will take a while before the San Nicola is full again. On the plus side, that makes tickets easy to come by compared to other destination across Italy.

So, if you’re heading to Bari, and there are plenty of reasons to, here is all you need to know about the San Nicola.

What Makes It Special

Its size and history. The San Nicola is Italy’s third-largest stadium behind Milan’s San Siro and the Stadio Olimpico in Rome and it conjures up memories of Italia 90. It was here that England lost the third-place play-off to Italy.

Even staring at the gigantic arena is enough to be transported back in time, in an era when Italian clubs played fast and loose with public funding and the emphasis when building stadiums was on size and architectural bombast.

And while the stadium feels far too big for its team, the Bari ultras do their best to generate a raucous atmosphere, often to great success.

How To Get There

The San Nicola is one of the most difficult stadiums in Italy to get to by public transport. The ground can be reached by bus 20 from Bari Centrale station, which is about a 50-minute ride away. Route 71 also connects the main train station with the stadium, but the San Nicola is still a 20-minute walk from the closest stop.

If opting for a taxi, Bari’s old town is approximately 15 to 20 minutes away.

Map

Neighbourhood Tips

The San Nicola is plonked in the middle of nowhere, over a 90-minute walk from the old town and surrounded by A-roads. The closest places to have a drink and food are Gulp and Antica Cucina Barese, still a 45-minute walk from the ground.

But while drinking and eating options are very limited in the proximity of the ground, the San Nicola comes to life inside. The the usual food trucks in the car park provide a no-frills yet safe place to have a pint and a sandwich, as do the bars on the concourse, where the menu is better than at most grounds across Italy and includes a delicious octopus sandwich.

Fill your boots at the ground then head back into town for a bite to eat after the game.

Need To Know

Bari ultras occupy the second tier of the Curva Nord to the left of the main stand. Expect the usual array of flares and pyrotechnics and chants against Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, whose ownership of Bari has long been controversial.

Tickets

The ticket collection points are located at gate No 1 and No 22 at the San Nicola. Our guide to buying tickets has all the information.